Reversible disc plow



Sept. 12, 1961 Filed March 50, 1960 P. D. WENZEL 2, 99,548

REVERSIBLE DISC PLOW 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 13-9 sea/n5 g udob W {ax/ Sept. 12, 1961 P. D. WENZEL 2,999,548

REVERSIBLE DISC PLOW Filed March 30, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 12, 1961 P. D. WENZEL 2,999,548

REVERSIBLE DISC PLOW Filed March so, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 12, 1961 P. D. WENZEL REVERSIBLE DISC PLOW 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 30, 1960 p 12, 1961 P. D. WENZEL 2,999,548

REVERSIBLE DISC PLOW Filed March 50, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 [M12 2271" /P///L/P p. A/[A/ZEL Filed Mar. 30, 1960, Ser. No. 18,750 8 Claims. (Cl. 172-212) The invention relates to reversible disc plows, and has particular value in connection with reversible plows of the type described in United States patents to Brown, No. 1,149,720, Coviello, No. 2,084,629, and Coviello No.2,163,832, and in the co-pending application of Campbell, Serial No. 531,715, filed August 31, 1955 (now US. Patent No. 2,949,161), and Wenzel, Serial No. 712,926, filed February 3, 1958 (now US. Patent No. 2,949,969). Both of these co-pending applications are owned by the assignee of this application.

The invention herein is in the nature of a modification of, or improvement upon, the reversible disc plow construction disclosed in said prior patents and applications. It is not the intention of applicant herein to claim in this application anything which is disclosed in said prior applications Serial Nos. 531,715 (no-w US. Patent No. 2,949,161) and 712,926 (now US. Patent No. 2,949,969), and is capable of being patented in said prior applica tions.

In reversible disc plows of thecharacter described, it is the general practice, where more than one disc is employed, to mount the discs on a single beam which is arranged to swing from side to side on a vertical axis and on a relatively fixed frame which is connected to the tractor by means of a suitable draft connection. Also, because of the requirements of the plowing operation, it is found generally advisable to mount the discs in spaced relationship on the plow beam in such manner that when the beam is swung from side to side in reversing the direction of plowing, the discs may also be suitably rotated in the beam on their vertical axes so that they will be positioned at the proper angle to the line of draft, regardless of the angle of movement through which the beam moves when the plowing direction is reversed. Such arrangements are disclosed in prior patents and applications herein referred to.

The invention herein claimedrelates more particularly to the rear wheel system by which the tail end of the plow is supported at a suitable height so that the discs will enter into the ground to the required depth, While at the same time the side thrust due to the action of the discs will be resisted so that the plow will move in a substantially straight line without slewing from one side to the other in either direction of plowing. r

Another feature of the invention resides in the. use of means for automatically reversing the position or inclination of the tail wheel system as an incident to the reversal of the plow beam.

In reversible disc plows ofthe character herein de scribed, it is the general practice,when three or more discs are employed, to position the rear disc on the plow beam at a point located to the rear of the axis upon which the beam swings in the frame. This has the effect of swinging the disc axle from side to side of the median line of the plow beam when the plow is reversed, sothat the position of the rear furrow will be correspondingly displaced from one side to the other of said median line when the plow is reversed.

Since it is desirable'tor thetail wheel to 'roll in the rear furrow, it is desirable to correspondingly adjust or displace the operative position of the tail wheel in accordance with the side-wise displacement of the furrow with respect to said median line in reversing the plow. Automatic means for eifecting this result are disclosed herein, together with suitable arrangements for rocking States Patent ICE or tilting the axis of the tail wheel from side to side as an incident to the reversal of the plow beam while keeping said axis approximately in a plane which is perpendicular to the said median.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a simple, efficient, rugged and relatively inexpen sive construction by which the various advantageous features or results above described may be obtained, and incidentally, to provide an arrangement by which any adjustments necessary to suit prevailing conditions may be readily effected in a simple manner.

In the drawings accompanying this application and illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is shown a tractor-drawn, three-disc reversible plow in which the invention is incorporated.

FIGURE 1 of the drawings is a side elevation in perspective of the plow arranged for right-hand plowing;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the plow arranged for right-hand plowing;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the same plow in the lefthand plowing position;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the plow as arranged for right-hand plowing;

FIGURE 5 is a diagram of the parallel motion linkage for shifting the tail wheel system from side to side of the median line of the frame;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary rear view end elevation of a part of the tail wheel system in the right-hand plowing position as shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is another rear view end elevation of the parts shown in FIGURE 6, before the plow has adjusted itself to full plowing position;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary rear view end elevation of the parts of the tail wheel system arranged in neutral or mid-way position, and equipped with a modification or improvement upon the rear Wheel system shown in FIGURES 6 and'7;

FEGURE 9 is a view of the device shown in FIGURE 8 just after the beam started its swing into the right-hand plowing position;

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to FIGURE 9, but showing the parts as they approach the plowing position; and

FIGURE 11 is a view showing the modified device after it has finally reached full right-hand plowing position.

Referring to the drawings, the supporting frame of Q the implement in general comprises, as best shownin FIGURE 2, a pair of spaced side bars 19 and 11 connected at their front end by a tubular crosspiece 12. The

rear ends of the side bars 1i} and 11 are bent inwardly, and at their rear extremities they are rigidly connected together by a pair of vertically spaced gusset plates 13. Said frame structure is further reinforced by means of an intermediate crossbar 14 and a stout strap 15, the outer ends of which are secured to the side frames in and 11 by means of small brackets such as 16.

The front end of the main frame is preferably supportedby an adjustable gauge wheel 17 adapted to roll upon the unplowed ground in advance of the discs and centrally located in respect of the median. Said gauge wheel 17 is carried by a leg or axle 18 having a transverse wheel axle portion 19 and a vertically extending post or staff 2 which may be vertically adjusted in the housing 21 which forms an integral forward extension of the frame tube 12. The tractor is connected by a suitable draft link (not shown) to the draft element 22 projecting forwardly from the crossbar 12.

The swinging plow beam in the present instance takes the form of a stout tube 23 fitted with spaced-sockets or bearings 24, 25 and 26 in the form of axially vertical sleeves rotatably supporting theplowaxles 27, 28 and 29 on which are mounted the plow .discs30, 31 and 32. The

socket 25 is vertically coaxial with suitable holes bored in the rear ends of the spaced gusset plates 13, so that the axle 28 which supports the disc 31 also serves as a pivot for the plow beam 23, enabling it to be swung in a horizontal plane throughout a vertical axis from the right-hand plowing position shown in FIGURE 2, to the left-hand plowing position shown in FIGURE 3. The plow beam 23 is swung from side to side by means of a hydraulic cylinder 33, the front end of which is pivoted to a lug 34 welded to the side bar 11, while the piston rod 35 has its'rear end pivoted to a lug 3-6 extending outwardly from the plow beam 23.

Automatic means'are provided for rotating the axles 27, 28 and 29 in the beam sockets when the beam 23 is swung from side to side within the main frame. Said means comprises crank arms 37, 38 and 39 carried by and locked to the upper ends of said plow axles 27, 2% and 29. Said crankarms are moved in unison by means of a linkage 40 pivotally connecting together the outer ends of the crank arms, the distance between the pivotal centers of the plow axles and the pivotal centers of said link pivots being the same so that the crank arms will all move in unison and in the same direction and an equal amount when any one of the crank arms or axles is rotated in'the beam.

The means for rotating or controlling the amount of rotation of the cranks 37, 38 and 39 in the plow beam 23, in this instance, are shown as a toggle device quite similar to that which is disclosed and described in the Wenzel application, Serial No. 712,926, referred to herein. Said toggle in this instance comprises a pair of hingedly connected floating links 41 and 42 connected together by a pivot 43. The outer end of the link 41 is pivotally connected to the front disc axle 27, and the outer or rear end of the toggle link 42 is connected to the pivot 44 of the crank arm 32 carried by the upper end of the disc axle 28. To the pivot 43- which connects the links 41 and 42 there is pivotally connected one end of a link 45. The other end of said link 45 is pivotally connected to a stud 46 carried by the upper gusset plate 13 of the main frame. Said pin or stud 46 may be adjustably supported in an oblique slot 47 formed in said gusset plate 13 by a suitable locking device such as a nut 48 (see FIG- URE 3), and said stud 46 may be positioned in said slot 47 in any fixed position which will satisfy existing conditions or requirements.

It will be understood that the angle of the discs in respect of the line of draft should be approximately the same for each direction of plowing and should be such as to obtain the best plowing result in accordance with the size of the disc, the spacing of the discs along the beam,

and the lateral spacing in a direction perpendicular to the said median line. In some instances where a different width of cut is desired, the beam is given more or less throw in the frame. This can be effected by means of adjustable stops which may take the form of screws or studs 49 and 50 carried by the frame bars and 11. Usually, when the throw of the beam is changed in this manner, it may be found advisable to shift the position of the stud 46 in the slot 47 in order to change the throw of the cranks 37, 38 and 39 in the beam 23, in order to obtain the correct angling of the discs.

The mechanism and operation so far described resembles in general the operation set forth in the Wenzel application, Serial No. 712,926, herein referred to. However, the tail Wheel system described herein and which constitutes an important aspect of the invention herein, differs materially from that described in the Campbell or Wenzel prior applications, in'that a single tail Wheel is employed as contrasted with the double wheel system disclosed in the formerapplications. This single wheel system will now be described.

Referring to FIGURES l, 4 and 6, it will be seen that at the rear of the implement, in this instance on the lower portion of the disc axle 29, there is mounted a swinging member which in the present instance, takes the form of a bracket 51 having a short, axially vertical post or column 52, to the upper end of which is united a horizontal plate 53. To the lower end of the post 52, there is integrally attached a forwardly extending arm in the form of a socket 54. Said plate 53 and socket 54 have their front ends bored out to fit the axle 29 and to rotate thereon. The upper plate 53 just described, as shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 5, is triangular, so as to provide a lateral lug or offset 55. To the said lug 55 by means of a pivot 56 there is connected the rear end of a link 57 (see FIGURE 2). The front end of said link 57 is pivoted to a pin or stud 58 on a small triangular lug 59 welded to the rear portion of the frame side bar 10 (see FIGURE 3). Y

For a purpose which will later appear, the pivot 58'on the lug 59 is spaced from the center of the axle 28 the same distance as the spacing between the pivot 56 and the center of the axle 29, and the distance between the pivots 56 and 58 on the link 57 is the same as the distance between the centers of the axles 28 and 29 on the plow beam 23. Thus, as shown in the diagram, FIGURE 5,

the parts which connect the pivots 29 and 56, 58 and 28,

form in effect a parallel motion linkage so that no matter what may be the position of the plow beam 23, whether arranged for right-hand or for left-hand plowing, the triangular top plate 53 will always occupy the same relative position with respect to the median line 60. However, as shown in FIGURE 5, the horizontal distance in a direction perpendicular to the median line between the positions of the axle 29 will be such that the median line 6% will be midway between the right and left plowing positions of the axle 29.

Referring now to FIGURES l and 4, it will be seen that the integral arm or socket 54 on the lowerend of the bracket 51 is enlarged and bored out to form an axially horizontal socket or hearing 61,.the axis of which is at all times substantially parallel with the median line, whether said bracket 51 be in the right-hand plowing position or in the left-hand. plowing position, and in this connection, reference may be had to the diagram shown in FIGURE 5.

Said socket 61 forms a bearing for accommodating the front end or stem 62 of a support in the form of a leg 63 which extends, as shown in FIGURES l to 4, obliquely, rearwardly and downwardly towards the tailwheel 64. Said stem 62 of the leg 63 rotates freelyin the socket 61 but is held in the socket 61 by means of a pin 65 which engages in a groove 66 formed around the inner end of said axle part 62. A best shown in FIGURES 1,. 4 and 6, there is welded around the upper end of the leg 63 a triangular plate 67, the upper end of which carries a pair of short sleeves 68 and 69 welded to theupper corners of the Plate 67 and accommodating a pair of adjustable stop screws such as-shown at 70 in FIGURE 1, and 71 in FIGURE ,4. Said stop screws 70 and 71 are adapted to engage the opposite sides of. a flat web or lug 72 constituting an integral part of the post 52 of the bracket 51. Stop screw elements 70' and 71 are spaced apart soas to permit a substantial amount of free pivotal movement of the lug 63 in either direction before the abutment 72 arrests such movement.

Referring now to FIGURES 2, 3 and 6, it will be seen that the lower end of the oblique leg or axle 63 is bent upwardly to form a lower axle part 73 which is substantially parallel with the median line and hence is sub stantially parallel with the axis of the upper horizontal stern portion 62 of said axle or leg 63. Said lower axle part '73 forms a journal part which is rotatably accommodated in a hub or rocker 74. on which the tail.

wheel 64 is rotatably supported.

When the rocket 74 is rotated around the axis of the crank 73, the bearing 75 of the tail wheel 64 will partake of the same movement, thereby tilting the axis of rotation of the'tail wheel 64. Said axisofthewheel 64 in the midway non-plowing position is in the vertical plane in which the median line of the frame is located. As shown in FIGURES 2 and 5, when the plow beam 23 is swung into the right-hand plowing position shown in said figures, the rocker 74 is tilted so that the furrow wheel axis 76 is inclined as shown in FIGURE 6. At the same time, the leg or support 63 for the rocker 74 is in a similar tilted position, as shown in FIGURE 6, so that the stop plate 67 of which is integral with the leg 63 is correspondingly tilted. In this tilted position, by reason of the sideward pressure of the ground against the wheel 77, the stop screw 71 engages the web 72. Since the swinging bracket 52, by means of the parallel linkage previously described, is always oriented or held parallel with the median line, the web 72 serves to arrest further movement of the stop screw 71 to the left, as shown in FIGURE 6.

The side thrust on the discs when in the right-hand plowing position is toward the left in FIGURES 2 and 6, so that when the tail wheel 64, as shown in FIGURE 6, is in engagement with the wall or edge 77 of the rear furrow, the tail wheel cannot slide to the left. Hence, the stem 62 of the supporting leg 63 will be subjected to a lateral force tending to move the stem 62 to the left. The result will be that the side thrust due to the righthand plowing operation will tend to move the stop plate 67 in acounterclockwise direction until the stop screw 71 makes contact with the web 72 which is carried by the bracket 52. 7

When the plow is reversed from the right-hand plowing position, shown in FIGURE 2, to the left-hand plowing position shown in FIGURE 3, the support or leg63, along with the stop plate 67 and the crank 73 as a unit, will swing around the pivot 62 in a clockwise direction (viewed from the rear of the implement). The rocker 74 which carries the tail wheel 64 and is pivoted on the crank 73 will also be rocked in the same clockwise directionso as to reverse the inclination of the tail wheel axis 76. Such rotation of the rocker element 74 is effected or controlled by the mechanism now to be described.

The rocker 74 is provided with an arm or staff 78 extending upwardly from the rocker and having its upper end connected by a universal or ball and socket joint 79 to the rear end of a generally horizontal limb or sweep 80 extending rearwardly from the rear end of the plow beam 23. In view of the fact that the ball and socket joint 79 at the upper end of the element 78 will be re ing direction, it may not be necessary to shift the socket of the bearing 61 from side to side when reversing the direction of plowing. In that case the parallel linkage for swinging the bracket on the beam may be dispensed with and the axle bearing 61 may be fixedly secured to the rear end of the implement frame.

The modification shown in FIGURES 8, 9, 10 and 1] Although the tail wheel system, as shown in FIGURES 1-7 inclusive, has given satisfaction, it has been found that there is sometimes a slight lag or interval between the time when the beam is reversed after reaching the end of the furrow and the plow is lowered, and the time when the tail wheel system attains its correct angle and position in the rear furrow. This can result in a somewhat uneven job of plowing in a zone at the ends of the furrows. This is because when the beam is reversed, the tail wheel has to pass through the neutral or central position in which the tail wheel gets its sole support from the oblique leg 63 of the axle, which said oblique leg 63, in effect, serves as a link hung from the bearing 61 for the stem 62 of the leg 63. The lower end of the leg 63 is formed with a horizontal pin or crank 73 pivoted in the hub 74 which carries the tail wheel 64.

Because of the fact that the tail wheel in its central position is freely suspended by the link 63, the wheel 64 and the hub 74 tend to assume a position directly below the suspension point 62, which neutral position is not under the control of other parts of the mechanism. The result is that when the staff 78 is moved in a counterclockwise direction from the left-hand plowing position, for example, toward the right-hand plowing position as shown quired to move vertically due to the movement of the arm 78, and also forwardly and backwardly due to the angular movement of the arm 80, suitable means should be provided to permit such movements to occur.

In the present instance, it is preferred to hinge the sweep 80 to the bifurcated rear end 81 of the plow beam 23 by means of a pivot pin 82 having its axis arranged in a horizontal plane and at a right angle to the longitudinal 5 center line of the beam 23. This will permit free vertical movement of the ball and socket joint 7 9 during the'swinging movement of the plow beam 23.

To allow for the forward and backward movement of the pivot 79 as the sweep 86 moves from side to side, the arm 78 is preferably connected to the rocker 74 by means of coaxial pivot pins 83 and 84 on opposite sides of the rocker 74 and extending through apertures in the ends of the spaced lugs 85 and 86 which form integral extensions of 'the upstanding control arm 78. In the'present instance, the axis of the two pivots 83 and 84 is preferably approximately perpendicular to the furrow wheel axis 76, and is also approximately perpendicular to the median line.

When the words clockwise or counterclockwise, or to the left or to the right are used, it is intended that the implement is viewed from the rear, and looking in the direction of the median line.

In certain cases, for example, where the rear disc is so positioned that the rear furrow is formed substantially in line with the center line of the implement in each plowin FIGURE 7, the desired counterclockwise movement of the staff 78 is partially neutralized by the fact that the tail wheel being suspended by the link-like element 63 tends to hang down and remain in a more or less central or vertical position, so that the staff 78 and wheel 64 for some time will be in a position causing the wheel 64 to be considerably flatter than the final right-hand plowing position. This may cause the tail wheel to skid momentarily before entering the ground and cause a slight delay until the tail wheel reaches the final plowing position shown in FIGURE 6.

Referring now to FIGURE 8 of the drawings, it will be seen that the hub 74a is made with a pair of spaced, integral, upstanding horns 87 and 88. The leg 63a is also provided with a rearwardly extending centrally positioned, integral plate-like lug positioned between, and adapted to be engaged by, the upper ends of the spaced horns or limit stops 87 and 88. It will be observed that the lug 90 is positioned above the center of the lower crank 73, but a substantial distance below the center of the upper stem or crank 62 of the axle. The resuit is that the amount of rocking movement of the hub 74 on the axle 73 is limited in either direction by the horns striking the axle lug 90. The etfect of the limit stops 87 and 88 will now be explained.

First of all, it should be understood that in. considering and analyzing this mechanism, it is convenient to assume that the staff 78 is not pivoted on the hub 74, since the function of the pivots 83 and 84 is only to enable the 7 staff 78 to adjust itself to the position of the ball joint '79. Also, it is convenient to assume that the hinged sweep 80 is, in effect, a continuation of the rear end of the plow beam and that the hinge is merely to permit a slight up and down movement of the ball joint 79 of the staff 78 during the swinging movement of the statf. Also, it is convenient to assume htat the ball joint 79 is not a fixed pivot, but can rise up and down as an incident to the swinging of the crank 73 around the upper crank 62. In other words, the tail wheel is not suspended from the point 79, but is suspended from the upper stem 62 by the leg 63 which functions as the suspension link.

Let us now assume that after the plow has been set in left-hand plowing position and has reached the end of the furrow, the operator, by means of the hydraulic cyl- 7 inder 33, moves the plow beam around the axle 28 towards the right-hand plowing position, as shown in FIG- URE 2 of the drawings.

Returning now to FIGURES 8, 9, and 11, it will be seen that when the rear wheel system is swung from the left-hand plowing position to the right-hand plowing position, the ball joint 79 moves to the left, i.e., in counterclockwise direction, viewed from the rear. The staff 78 first reaches the central or neutral position shown in FIG- URE 8, in which, as will be seen, the flange of the wheel 64 is substantially horizontal. In this neutral position, the lug 72 is not engaged by adjusting screws 70, nor is the lower lug 90 engaged by either of the horns 87 and 88. The parts described thus have no control over the suspension of the tail wheel system which tends to hang down in the position shown in FIGURE 8 with the center of gravity of the system immediately below the upper crank 62. However, as the ball joint 79 continues to move to the left, as shown in FIGURE 9, the hub 64 commences to rotate on the lower crank 73 and the horn 38 will consequently engage the lug 90 on the leg 63. So, when the ball and socket joint 79 continues to move to the left and away from the center, the member 7 8, hub 74 and leg 63 are all locked together, and move as a unit around the upper crank 62. This movement is in a counterclockwise direction since the ball and socket joint 79 is moving to the left, and consequently, the tail wheel system is compelled to rock about the axle 62 and move into the position shown in FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 10 shows the parts in the position occupied after the ball joint 79 has been moved a further distance I to the left. In this FIGURE 10 position, the system has almost reached the ground-entering condition, and the tail wheel 64 has tilted substantially more than in the FIG- URE 7 position, and sufliciently so that it is now in proper position to avoid undesirable skidding and enter and contact the land side of the furrow. At this time, the discs have begun to take hold and the side thrust from left to right thereby developed causes the main frame of the machine to move to the left. However, the furrow wheel 64, because it is against the land side of the furrow, cannot move, and hence, the upper crank 62 moves to the left by reason of the side thrust. This further movement of the crank 62 to the left forces the systein'to rotate with a further counterclockwise movement. This frees the lug 90 from its Contact with the horn or stop 88, and at the same time, closes the gap between the upper stop lug 72 on the bracket 52, which is finally engaged by the right hand adjustable stud 71, as shown in FIGURE 11. Said FIGURE 11 shows the parts after the change from left-hand to right-hand plowing has been completed.

Various features of the present invention which'are believed to be new are set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

l. A reversible disc plow implement having a main frame, a beam pivoted on said frame so as to be swingable on a substantially vertical axis to reverse the ploww ing direction, means for swinging said beam, a plurality on said beam, discs on said axles, a support pivotally mounted on said implement so as to rotate on an axis extending approximately parallel with the median line of said implement, a rocker mounted on said support so asto rock about an axis approximately parallel with and below the support axis, means synchronized with said beam-swinging means for moving said rocker clockwise about its axis when viewed from the rear when said beam is swung from right-hand plowing to left-hand plowing and vice versa, and a side-thrust-resisting furrow wheel mounted to rotate on said rocker.

2 A reversible disc plow implement having a main frame, a forwardly extending beam pivoted on said frame so as to be swingable on a substantially vertical axis to reverse the plowing direction, a plurality of spaced,

axially vertical plow axles rotatably mounted on said beam, discs on said axles, a support pivotally mounted on said implement so as to rotate freely on an axis extending approximately parallel with the median line of said implement, stop means for limiting the arc of rota tion of said support, a rocker pivotally mounted on said support so as to rock about an axis approximately paral lel with and below the support axis, means connecting said beam with the rocker so as to move said rocker clockwise about its axis when said beam is swung from right-hand plowing to left-hand plowing and vice versa, and a side-thrust-resisting furrow wheel mounted to rotate on said rocker. V

3. A reversible disc plow implement having a main frame, a forwardly extending beam pivoted on said frame so as to be swingable on a substantially vertical axis to reverse the plowing direction, a plurality of spaced, axially vertical plow axles rotatably mounted on said beam, the axis of one of said axles being spaced rearwardly of the beam axis, discs on said axles, a bracket pivotally mounted on the rear of said implement so as to be rotatable on a substantially vertical axis, a supporting leg having its upper end pivotally mounted on said bracket so as to rotate to and fro on an axis extending approximately parallel with the median line of said implement, a rocker mounted on said leg so as to rock on a horizontal axis approximately parallel with, but spaced below said leg axis, means connecting said beam with the rocker so as to tilt said rocker on its axis in accordance with the swinging movement of said beam, means connecting said bracket and said beam for rotating said bracketaround its vertical axis as an incident to the swinging movement of said beam so as to maintain the axis of said leg approximately parallel with said median, and a rear furrow wheel mounted on said rocker.

4. A reversible disc plow implement havinga main frame, a forwardly extending beam pivoted on said frame so as to be swingable on a substantially vertical axis to reverse the plowing direction, a plurality of spaced, axially vertical plow axles rotatably mounted on said beam, discs on said axles, a bracket pivotally mounted on the rear of said implement so as to be rotatable on a substantially vertical axis, a supporting leg having its upper end pivotally mounted on said bracket so as to rotate to and fro on an axis extending approximately parallel with the median line of said implement, a rocker mounted on said leg so as to rock on a horizontal axis approximately parallel with, but spaced below said leg axis, means connecting said beam with the rocker so as to tilt said rocker on its axis in accordance with the swinging movement of said beam, means connecting said bracket and said beam for rotating said bracket around its vertical axis as an incident to the swingingmovement of said beam so as to maintain the axis of said, leg approximately parallel with said median line, a, rear furrow wheel, mounted on said rocker, and stop means for limiting the to-and-fro rotary movement of said leg on said bracketso as to properly position said furrow wheel in respect of the furrow.

5. A reversible plow implement having a main frame, a forwardly extending beam pivoted on said frame so as to be swingable on a substantially vertical axis to reverse the plowing direction, a plurality of plow axles mounted on said beam and rotatable on horizontally spaced vertical axes, discs on said axles, a bracket pivotally mounted on the rear of said implement so as to be rotatable on a substantially vertical axis, asupporting leg having a forwardly extending stem pivotally mounted on said bracket so as to rotate through a limited are on a substantially horizontal axis extending substantially parallel with the median line of said implement, and a rearwardly extending crank arm integral with said stem, a rocker rotatably mounted on said arm so as to rock on said arm from side to side on an axis approximately a main frame,

a forwardly extending beam pivoted on said frame so as to be swingable on a substantially vertical axis to reverse the plowing direction,

a plurality of spaced, axially vertical plow axles rotatably mounted on said beam,

discs on said axles,

a bracket pivotally mounted on the rear of said implement so as to be rotatable on a substantially vertical axis,

a crank axle having a forwardly extending stem pivotally mounted on said bracket so as to rotate freely on an axis extending approximately parallel with the median line of said implement, and having a rearwardly extending crank arm approximately parallel with and spaced below said stem axis,

a rocker rotatably mounted on said arm so as to rock on said arm from side to side,

means connecting said beam with the rocker so as to tilt said rocker on said arm in accordance with the swinging movement of said beam, and

means connecting said bracket and beam for rotating said bracket around its vertical axis as an incident to the swinging movement of said beam so as to maintain the axis of said stem substantially parallel with said median line,

and a furrow wheel on said rocker and having its axis approximately perpendicular to the axis of the rocker.

7. A reversible disc plow implement having a main frame,

a forwardly extending beam pivoted on said frame so as to be swingable on a substantially vertical axis to reverse the plowingvdirection, and having a sweep extending rearwardly of said beam axis,

a plurality of spaced, axially vertical plow axles rotatably mounted on said beam,

discs on said axles,

a rocker mounted to rotate on said implement around a horizontal axis which is approximately parallel with the median line of the implement and below the beam,

:1 rear furrow wheel carried by said rocker and adapted to rotate on an axis which is oppositely inclined to the horizontal when the rocker is rocked on its own axis,

an arm located in a plane in which the wheel axis is located, and having its lower end connected to said rocker and its upper end connected to the rear end of said sweep whereby the swinging movement of the beam on its vertical axis will effect movement of said rocker around its horizontal axis, and thereby reverse the inclination of the furrow wheel axis when the beam is reversed.

8. A reversible disc plow implement having a main frame,

a forwardly extending beam pivoted on said frame so as to be swingable on a substantially vertical axis to reverse the plowing direction, and having a sweep extending rearwardly of the beam axis, and having its front end hinged to the beam,

a plurality of spaced, axially vertical plow axles rotatably mounted on said beam, discs on said axles,

a rocker mounted to rotate on said implement around a horizontal axis which is approximately parallel with the median line of said implement,

a rear furrow wheel carried by said rocker and adapted to rotate on an axis which intersects the rocker axis, and lies in a plane which is approximately perpendicular to said median line,

and a staff located in a plane in which the wheel axis is located, and having its lower end hingedly connected to said rocker and its upper end pivotally connected to the rear end of said sweep whereby the swinging movement of the beam on its vertical axis will effect a rocking movement of said rocker around its horizontal axis, and thereby reverse the inclination of the furrow wheel when the beam is reversed.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREiGN PATENTS 275,320 Switzerland Aug. 1, 1951 

